Buoy for saving the occupants and the material of submarine boats



Jan. 3, 1933. -L.. KLoPoTowsKl BUOY FOR SAVING THE OCCUPANTS AND THEMATERIAL OF SUBMARINE BOATS Filed May 8. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 d p 2...L

Jan. 3, 1933. L. KLoPoTowsKl BUOY FOR SAVING THE 'OCCUPANTS AND THEMATERIAL OF SUBMARINE BOATS Filed May 8, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedJan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES ParaNrs OFFICE LUCIEN' KLOPOTOWSKI, OF PARIS,FRANCE BUOY FOR SAVING THE OCCUPANTS AND THE MATERIAL F SUBMARINE BOATSApplication filed May 8, 1931, Serial No. 535,972, and in France May 10,1930.

The principal object of the invention is to provide improved means bywhich a buoy may be carried eXteriorly of the body of a submarine vesselso as to be out of the way and avoid occupying useful space in theinterior of the submarine and to eect improvements in means by which thebuoy may be entered from within the submarine and released from thesubmarine and employed thereby for saving life and facilitating escapeof persons from the submarine when the latter is submerged.

To this end there may be provided on or above the body of the boat, andpreferably within the superstructure of the conning bridge, a convenientlodging chamber for the buoy.

This chamber can also be introduced or provided within the existingapertures serving for the introduction of submarine mines. With theabove and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of devices v, hereinafterdescribed and claimed. On the accompanying drawings several forms ofembodiment have been shown, and on this drawing:

Fig. l is a longitudinal, schematic section of the submarine boat;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the deck portion of asubmarine provided with a buoy and storing and releasing means for thebuoy in accordance with one form of my invention,

Fig. 3a is a similar view of the lower portion of the said storing andreleasing means on a larger scale.

v Fig. 4 is a similar view showing a modified form of the invention Fig.5.is a similar view of another modified form of the invention.

In Fig. 1 both forms are represented to show the temporary lodgment a onthe left T and the stationary equipment b on the right.

In the drawings the hull of the submarine is indicated at c.

Figs. 3 and 4 show again, more detailed,

. the temporary and Fig. 5 the stationary form of embodiment for lodgingthe buoy g.

According to Fig. 5, one provides on or above the envelope Z2 of thesubmarine boat a conical chamber' Z1 with its larger opening d. 1Withinthe envelope Z2 of the vessel is provided a manhole, and a centralopening for the placement of the anchoring device described hereunto.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 8 and 4 the hatchway ofthe submarine is utilized for the reception of the structure forming thelodging chamber e3 with its enlarged opening d. The buoy g is arrangedin the said chamber, the diametrically enlarged upper end d of thechamber facilitating the emplacement and the release of the buoyas willbe understood. The existing entrance comprises the under part e and thecover el. rlhe latter is now provided with a central opening e2 whichallows the water tight introduction and fixing of the conical 79 seat orchamber e3, the upper border whereof isv provided with guiding rollersf, also shown in Fig. 5.Y These rollers facilitate the inserting of thebuoy g. et is the ordinary waterv tight'joint for the now transformedcover el. 7D Under these circumstances it would be possible to removerapidly, if desired, the entire buoy lodging chamber e3 and all otherequipments together with the buoy itself and to reinstate the previousstate of art necessary 80 for the introduction of submarine-mines.

According to Fig. 3 the chamber e3 is closed at the bottom by means of aclosure r having a manhole 1 provided with a hatch g r2, provided withan entrance or manhole. To 80 this center'of saidV closure are attachedthe devices for anchoring and detaching the buoy g which has the usualform and contains the ordinary apparatus and instruments etc. Moreoverit is provided in its 9o interior with a watertight winch m, on the drumwhereof is placed a cable, the other end whereof is attached to a seconddrum n arranged in the inside of the boat, this cable v traversing therespective mechanical devices vertically and centrally as indicated bythe vertical line m.

The hollow bottom /L of the buoy g has a manholeV g1, closed by thecover g2, and it is traversed in its center by a vertical tube tl viore'ctedf by means of a central screw-spindle with a fungiformed cap h2,the rear horizontal face whereof allows the movable hooksy 71,3 to graspthe extremity of said tube which is fixed in a convenient rmanner to thebuoy. The latter is then maintained in the shown position within thevconical chamber or seat e3. Within the tube .is .lodged a hollowslidablelrodc", provided at its yend with a curved plate Z1. The rod iscontinuously under the influence of ai spring 112 which endeavours topush the rod'outoflthe tube h1 and to bear against a plate lo whichforms apart of a screwed spindle Z4 which moves within the boss Z3 oftoothed wheel Z2 gearing with a second wheel Z1 which can be manuallyrotated :by .means of va lhand wheel Zfrom the interior 'of the boat.

The under end of .each hook h3 is articulated to the plate 7c while alink y' connects ity to the casing jl fixed in a suitable manner to thecover. l

By screwing out the spindle Z,the hooks are progressively detached fromthecap h2 andat the same timey the spring Z2 is com-k pressed,1so thatthe buoy is pushed upwards.

lV'rater is then `entering the intermediate room and said buoy can riseto the surface under. the hydrostatic buoyancy as soon as the cable isreleasedfrom the one 'or the other ofthe drums m or n. .l

4 shows a modid form of embodiment, and wherein the same lettersindicate similar parts.V v i f The vouter bottomV is provided with fourequid-istant rails 0 provided with rollers in the lower end of the firstnamed tubeand bearing on the screw and anormally compressed coiledspring in the first named tube and bearing between the upper end thereofand the upperrend of the innen tube.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my .hand this. 24 day of April',All 1931 Y A LUCIEN KLOPQTOWSKI.

which facilitate thev entrance ofthe buoy into its seating. The graspingdeviceis. moved byl means of screw spindle Z4r 'which turns within ascrew Z3 lodged within the box jl.

n Fig. 5 'the lgraspingidevice is. againv diand provided with anyinternally threaded openin'gy'a screw engaged in' saidthreaded opening,means mounted on said screw and includingihooks'engagingthe recessesoflsaid tube, said hooks being disengagedfrom said tube to release thebuoy by axial movement, of thescrew imparted theretolby the threaded'opening 'of the revoluble member when vthe latteris turned, andmeans inthe Vtube 'active when the tube isV detached by thehooks toimpartlaunching thrustvto the buoy vto disengage the latter from itsstoragechamber.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim l, in

l which the means to impartflaunching thrust to theibuoyfcomprises aninner :tube yarranged

